Yahoo! Strikes Deal With Alibaba

Yahoo! and Alibaba say they have reached a deal for Alibaba to buy back up to half of the stake that Yahoo! holds in it.

TheStreet Staff

NEW YORK -- Yahoo! Inc.(:YHOO) has reached a deal to sell up to half of its stake in Alibaba back to the Chinese e-commerce company for about $7.1 billion.

The two companies announced the deal late Sunday, although there had been earlier news reports saying the companies were close to an agreement.

If Alibaba purchases half of the stake for $7.1 billion, it will pay at least $6.3 billion in cash and up to $800 million worth of newly issued Alibaba preferred stock, the companies said.

The companies also said the deal sets up a framework for Yahoo! to eventually monetize all of its Alibaba stake.

Under this framework, if Alibaba holds an initial public offering in the future, it will be required to either purchase one-quarter of Yahoo!'s current stake at the IPO price or allow Yahoo! to sell its stake in the IPO.

Yahoo! would also have registration rights and marketing support from Alibaba to help it to sell its remaining shares following a customary lock-up period after the IPO.

> > Bull or Bear? Vote in Our Poll

Shares of Yahoo! closed Friday up 55 cents at $15.42.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.